That 6mbps Home Data Plan May Not Be “Broadband” Much Longer

If you’ve owned a computer and an internet connection that used a phone line, and welcomed you with the voice of Elwood Edwards saying “You’ve Got Mail” then you’ve also been through several iterations of high speed internet or broadband.

Currently, connections with a steady downstream speed of 4 megabits per second or more, have been considered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as “broadband”. Now though, that may all change.

The Washington Post reported on Friday morning that the FCC is considering a change in the terminology “broadband” to reflect the higher speeds that are offered by internet providers or the higher speeds suggested by companies like Netflix. While Netflix says it requires a broadband connection, the company also suggests a minimum of 10mbps downstream for it’s streaming services and 25mbps downstream for “ultra HD 4k”.

While this really has little bearing on most people who have high speed internet, it may mean that company’s that still offer DSL service in more rural or developing areas, will have to shutter the broadband terminology or increase their download speed to maintain the verbiage.

The FCC has also said that to fit within the parameters of broadband an internet connection must have an upload speed of 2.9mbps or better. That’s up from the previous 1mbps standard.